AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services
Pumpkins, chrysanthemums and straw bales provided a spectacular setting for celebrating Park Tavern’s 10th Anniversary on the golden afternoon of October 4th.
Though the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce would be conducting the official anniversary program along with a ribbon cutting in front of the restaurant, longtime patrons of Park Tavern were already celebrating inside.
As is usually the case, Chamber CEO Liz League showed up early to greet those attending the program and was soon trading the latest business news with Tommy Sommers, owner of LogoZone Promotions, and Phil Savard from Ace Hardware.
The group quickly grew as more people from the Severna Park business community arrived. Maryland State Delegate Heather Bagnall had invited her Chief of Staff Rory Nolan to accompany her as he had never visited Park Tavern before. He was eager to see what it was like.
Bagnall related a bit about the history of Park Tavern and other properties of the 206 Restaurant Group to her young chief of staff.
“I really like that the restaurant group partners buy long established properties that may have lost their sheen like the Deep Creek Restaurant in Arnold. The partners restored and transformed it into something really special,” Bagnall said. “When the restaurant group took over ownership of the former Woodfire Restaurant and Back Room and transformed it into Park Tavern, they created a truly wonderful dining exerience which has become a really important part of the Severna Park community. Each of the restaurants they’ve opened is different and distinct from the others.”
Folks attending the anniversary celebration continued to stream in and formed conversational groups along the restaurant sidewalk. Anne Arundel County Council member Amanda Fiedler, who would be presenting a citation to Park Tavern owner Don Kelly and his partners, caught up with fellow presenter Aysia Rodriguez representing Maryland State Delegate Brian Chisholm and Severna Park Voice publisher Dianna Lancione.
Moments later, 206 Restaurant Group partners Don Kelly, Justin Dvorkin and Greg Keating, their families and staff filed out onto the front steps of Park Tavern as League called everyone together for the official Anniversary Program.
The program got underway with League interviewing Don Kelly about his vision in opening Park Tavern and his take on what’s happened in the 10 years since.
“Ten years has flown by, with a little curve ball in the middle in 2020 with the COVID pandemic, which we’d never experienced before. But this tavern was the one establishment we never closed down. That was not what we had in any of our other locations. Severna Park really supported us, and we thank them to this day, ” Kelly said.
“Over that 10-year period, we opened Donnelly’s Dockside with our partner Dan Donnelly and our sports bar JB’s which sits directly opposite Park Tavern. We’ve been delighted how well JB’s and Park Tavern complement each other and continue to thrive. We hope we’ll be here with both for another 20 years.”
In response to League’s question about what sets Park Tavern apart from the 206 Restaurant Group’s other properties, Kelly responded he’d looked to provide something the community didn’t have – to fill a niche. He wanted to reinvent the neighborhood tavern, with good food, a menu that changed two or three times each year, and great service. He noted that, when customers come into the Tavern, they’ll see six or seven of the original staff members and others who know their clientele well.
Kelly and partners Dvorkin and Keating spent a few minutes speaking about their other properties – each with its own personality. In addition to Park Tavern and JB’s, they include their Baltimore landmark pub, the cozy Pratt Street Ale House and Donnelly’s Dockside with waterside dining the partners have taken to another level. The threesome also shared the exciting news that their well-known Oliver Brewing Company is moving from East Baltimore to a site on Jumper’s Hole Road in Millersville. The craft brewer of American ales and taproom will be a welcome addition to the Millersville community and will bring 20 to 30 fulltime jobs to the area.
League easily segued into the next part of the celebration introducing several state and local government officials with citations to present to Park Tavern.
The official ceremony over, the partners, family members and staff came together across the tavern’s front entrance for photographs and a chamber ribbon cutting. A half dozen original staff members and several others who’ve worked at Park Tavern for a least six or seven years were praised by the partners.
Meantime, indoors, Park Tavern regulars were already celebrating.
The bar already fully occupied when the anniversary celebration got underway at 4 pm, longtime Park Tavern patrons Kati Elliott and friend Lauren Garber found a table with other longtime customers and enjoyed the celebration. They had a great time selecting goodies from the trays of complimentary hors d’ oeuvres and shooters the waiters were handing out.
The official anniversary festivities were over at 6 pm, but many of those attending stayed on.
Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere
Autumn is fleeting but, on these bright beautiful days who can resist visiting one of our local produce stands where pumpkins share star billing with chrysanthemums. Diehl’s Produce in Severna Park has a great variety of pumpkins in all sizes – from those suitable for making pies to those that are decorative – plus a wide variety of winter squash. A shock of fodder makes a great background for some of those vibrant hued chrysanthemums.
A limited amount of produce is still available including some crispy apples from Adam’s County, Pennsylvania. Diehl’s Produce will remain open through Halloween, then will observe a pause until reopening to sell Christmas trees.
Driving about, we found the proliferation of pumpkins positively picturesque at Pumphrey’s Farm on Veteran’s Highway in Millersville.
Pumphrey’s Farm still has plenty of vegetables and fruits available including several varieties of apples and pears from Carroll County. The stand will remain open till Thanksgiving.
SHOPTOBERFEST with a Trick or Treat Twist at Park Plaza this Saturday
The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce reports that over 40 vendors will be appearing at the annual SHOPTOBERFEST with a Trick or Treat Twist at Park Plaza this Saturday from 10 am till 3 pm. There will be a Kids Costume Contest at 1 pm followed by a Costume Contest for Dogs. There will be food to sample, music and entertainment to enjoy, and the chance to SHOP LOCAL in support of our community businesses.
Cypress Restaurant & Bar to open at Park Plaza
We happened to notice while driving through Park Plaza that work is in progress on the new Cypress Restaurant & Bar being opened in the space that was once home to Sullivan’s Cove. Attractive signage was being installed but brown paper still covered most windows, so we were unable to peek inside.
A Facebook page states that the restaurant will serve fresh, local dishes but an opening date is not yet listed. You can check it out at Facebook.
AAUW Book Sale to be held October 31 thru November 3
We booklovers are delighted to hear that the annual AAUW Book Sale will be held from Thursday, October 31 to Sunday November 3 at Chesapeake Square, 6714 Ritchie Hwy, Glen Burnie, MD (south of Ordinance Road, west side of Ritchie Hwy, in shopping center with Chap’s Pit Beef).
Doors open for the presale from 8:00 to 10:00 AM on Thursday, October 31 ($40 entry) then free to all from 10:00 am to 7:00 PM. The sale continues Friday, November 1 from 10:00 am to 7:00 PM, Saturday, November 2 from 9:00 am to 7:00 PM and Sunday, November 3 from 9:00 am to 3:00 PM.
As always, the sale offers a wide variety of books including fiction, biography, history, science, religion, arts and crafts, cookbooks, coffee table books, children’s books and more. Cash, check or credit card accepted.
Proceeds of the sale go to scholarships for Anne Arundel County women. For more information, visit AAUW ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY USED BOOK SALE | Facebook.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
